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' UNITE STATES PATENT Omucn.

PLATT B. WALKER, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, AND GEORGE F. BROTT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ARTIFICIAL FUEL.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 250,115, dated November 29, 1881. Application filed May 26, 1881. (No specimens.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, PLATT. B. WALKER, of Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, and GEORGE F. Bno'rrr,

of Washington city and District of Columbia, have invented a new and useful Composition of Matter to be used as Fuel, of which the following is a specification.

The object of our invention is to produce a cheap, durable, and economical fuel for industrial and household purposes and it consists, broadly, in the combination of peat and sawdust, with or without the addition of bituminous or mucilaginous substances.

I 5 In some portions of our country, especially in the timbered districts, where vast quantities of lumber is sawed, the accumulation of sawdust has been and still is the source of much annoyance, and as a general practice it is carted off to any convenient place to rot. Attempts have been made, however, to utilize thismaterial by compressing it into blocks or cakes, with rosin, coal-tar, or other adhesive binding material; but in all such the material has had but little commercial value as a fuel, ex-

cept as a fire-kindler. Sawdust has also been mixed with lime, clay, and other non-combustible materials for fuel, and as a result the combustible properties of the sawdust have been 0 in a measure impaired, while the lime, clay, or other incombustible earthy matter used has been only useful as a bindingmaterial, while the .useless bulk of clay, lime, 850., results in the unnecessary expenditure of money for trans- 3 5 portation.

We have discovered that by mixing sawdust with peat a substantial and durable fuel is produced. The combustible and heat-generating properties of both these substances have long been known, and need no further mention in connection with a description of our invention, as both have their special values as a fuel.

By the combination of the substances above mentioned we are enabled to produce a fuel specially adapted for the various uses of manufacture and for domestic purposes. For instance, by mixing with the sawdust only a sufficient quantity ofpeat to bind the sawdust together, we produce a quick-burning fuel, 0 and by increasing the amount of peat we increase the density of the composition and obtain a slow-burning durable fuel, so that we do not wish to confine ourselves to any specific proportions of sawdust and peat, but reserve to ourselves the right to vary the proportions as the demand of the trade shall require. Ordinarily the adhesive and binding properties of the peat will be sufficient to make a perfect bond of union for the sawdust, if properly compressed; but we may find it advantageous to use bituminous substances, such as the residuum of petroleum or coal-tar, which would add to the combustibility of the compound, or we may use a mucilaginous material, such as the refuse from starch-works, to assist in perfecting the bond of union between the peat and sawdust.

The peat is reduced or macerated into a pulp in any suitable machine, (an ordinary pug-mill will be found well adapted for the purpose,) then the sawdust to any desired amount is added, and the whole thoroughly mixed.

It maybe here remarked that if it is desired to add the residuum of petroleum, coal-tar, or 7 other adhesive bituminous combustible material, or the mucilaginous binding material, it can be done while the material is being mixed in the pug or other mill. Coloring-matter of any desired hue may also be added, if desired, at the same time.

' The material, havingbeen mixed, can be readily molded or pressed into blocks of any desirable or convenient size.

We do not Wish to confine ourselves to any special mechanism in the manufacture of our fuel, as it is obvious from the foregoing description that many of the machines now used in the manipulation of clay for the manufacture, of brick can be used to advantage. For instance, we may use the machines in which the pug-mill or mixing arms act on the material to force it through a die or nozzle under power ful pressure, so that when the material leaves the machine in a compressed sheet or mass it 5 can be cut into suitable lengths and stacked up to cure Withoutfurther compression. Rollsisting of peat and sawdust, with or without 10 ers may also be used to compress the material the bituminous matter or binding and cementafter it has been properly mixed. ing material, as set forth.

Having thus described our invention what 5 we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1 The herein-described artificial fuel, con- Witnesses: sistin g of peat and sawdust. STEPHEN SGHNITZER,

2. The herein-described artificial fuel, con- LOUIS SCHMIDT. 

